Pages

Friday, November 3, 2017

On fantasy heist stories

If you love Ocean’s Eleven and epic fantasy, this is the list for you. Below are three books that bring the heist trope into a fantasy story with rewarding results for the reader:

Six of Crowsby Leigh Bardugo - When Kaz Brekker and company are commissioned to break into the Ice Court to retrieve a hostage, they have no idea just how much can go wrong. This YA fantasy story is full of twists, unexpected connections, and fascinating characters. Add in an impossible heist and you’ve got a book that’s worth reading.

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson - Sanderson’s Mistborn series begins with a young urchin girl being enlisted to help pull off the “heist” of the century - deposing Lord Ruler. The rest of the series has the characters dealing with the aftermath of their actions - a fascinating way to handle a heist story. This is an excellent start to a fantasy series that everyone should read.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch - Locke Lamora and his band of Gentleman Bastards are pros at pulling off heists - or so they think until someone starts getting the better of them. Full of hilarious hijinxs and some very serious consequences, this book maintains an excellent balance between the silly and the deadly serious - and shows the reader what it takes to become a world-class thief.

What heist stories have inspired your thievery? What would you add to this list?